Campaigning for the general election

It was a tough year for Republicans in Minnesota, and that wasn’t something money could fix. Despite attempts to localize House races, the November midterm election was largely a referendum on President Donald Trump, mostly adjudicated in the Twin Cities suburbs. DFLers’ success in the suburbs propelled them to victories in the competitive governor’s race, attorney general’s race and in the race for the Minnesota House of Representatives. But how money was spent shows that GOP groups were doing what they could to make a bad situation better. According to year-end reports filed last week with the state Campaign Finance Board, Democrat-affiliated groups spent heavily in the governor’s race, while Republican groups appeared to devote their resources in an attempt to hold the House. Those spending patterns were established after the August primary and continued through the end of the campaign. All-told, Democratic outside groups outspent Republican groups by … [Read more...] about Republican-linked groups spent millions on the campaign for the Minnesota House. Republicans lost 18 seats

Let us start with the bad news. Bad news for the Fil-Am cheering squad and then bad news for Donald Trump. None of the Fil-Am candidates for the US Congress made it. Falling short and failing were Gina Ortiz Jones, Jennifer Zimmerman and Cristina Osmeña, all in attempts to unseat Republican incumbents. OPINION: Gina Ortiz Jones' American journey Cristina Osmeña is our own ex-Senator Serge Osmeña’s Republican daughter. She was gunning for California’s Bay Area 14th District, long held by Democrat Jackie Spier. That was a tough call. Democrat Jennifer Zimmerman, whose mother is Filipina, ran in the First District of Florida, covering the panhandle counties around Pensacola and the US’ largest Air Base, Eglin. She failed to unseat the Republican incumbent. I do not think her ethnic heritage was ever a factor in a vicinity with very scant Philippine content, if at all. Democrat Gina Ortiz Jones, daughter of a Pangasinense public school teacher, was … [Read more...] about OPINION: Notes on the US elections and its Fil-Am participation

opinion Nancy Kaffer Detroit Free Press Published 4:53 PM EST Nov 7, 2018 Michigan Dems fared well at the top of Tuesday's ticket: Gretchen Whitmer won the governorship, Jocelyn Benson is Michigan's new Secretary of State and Dana Nessel took the Attorney General's office. U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow won re-election to the seat she's held since 2000. Democratic candidates Elissa Slotkin and Haley Stevens flipped Republican seats in the 8th and 11th Congressional districts, respectively. Down ballot, results were mixed: Dems increased their numbers in the state House and Senate but didn't win control of either chamber. Nationally, Democrats took a majority in the U.S. House of Representatives, but Republicans strengthened their majority in the U.S. Senate. And Democrats lost in a few high-profile races that some considered national bellwethers. What does it all mean? Here are four things to think about, as you follow politics … [Read more...] about 4 things to know about the midterm election results

Area voters will head to the polls on Tuesday for a midterm election that could see the balance of power shift toward the left in the U.S. Congress.Pennsylvania, and specifically the suburbs of Philadelphia, will play an important role in the future makeup of the Congress, with several races key to the Democrats' effort to flip the U.S. House. Nationwide, Democrats need a net gain of 23 seats to retake the majority.Suburban women voters, who oppose President Donald Trump in large numbers according to polls, are considered the key voting bloc in the midterms.One thing is for sure: Philly-area voters will be sending a congresswoman (from District 5) and perhaps a second as well (from District 4) to Washington to diversify the current all-male congressional delegation from Pennsylvania.RELATED STORY: Pennsylvania Supreme Court unveils new congressional mapThere are other big races in the state, including for governor, and a multitude of contested seats in the … [Read more...] about 2018 Pennsylvania general election: What you need to know

There are three reasons why someone or some group wanting to influence an election would choose an independent expenditure committee over giving directly to candidates: there are no limits to how much can be contributed; you have more opportunity to control the message; if you go too far with a negative campaign, the candidates you support are insulated from any backlash. All are good reasons to explain why so much of the 2018 campaigns for governor, attorney general and control of the state Legislature are flowing through independent committees. According to the latest reports with the Minnesota Campaign Finance Board, which were released this week, $7.4 million has already been spent on the race for governor. Of that, $3.5 million has been spent for and against the survivors of the primary: DFLer Tim Walz and Republican Jeff Johnson. Outside spending in the governor's race Note: Data shown represent money spent by political committees and party committees. Tim Walz (DFL) and Jeff … [Read more...] about How Minnesota’s major independent expenditure committees have been spending their money on the 2018 election